Defendants operated a large-scale sex-trafficking ring in the Los Angeles area. Defendants recruited the victims, all vulnerable Guatemalan adult and minor females, to come to the U.S. by promising them legitimate jobs. The defendants transported the victims to the U.S. through smuggling and forced them to engage in commercial sex acts to pay off their smuggling debt. Defendants forced the victims to engage in the sex acts by threatening them and their families. They also exploited the victims' fear of witch doctors. Five defendants were convicted of a number of trafficking-related charges and received prison sentences of up to 480 months imprisonment.